Environmental ion chromatography

Význam tématu

Environmental ion chromatography (IC) plays a critical role in monitoring water quality, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards, and protecting public health and ecosystems. By enabling reliable detection of inorganic anions, cations, disinfection byproducts, toxic contaminants, and emerging pollutants, IC supports the assessment of drinking water, wastewater, groundwater, surface water, and ambient particulate matter.

Cíle a přehled studie / článku

This compendium of Thermo Scientific application notes presents a broad set of IC methods applied to environmental analysis. Key objectives include:

• Determination of regulated inorganic anions and cations in drinking and wastewater following EPA methods.
• Measurement of disinfection byproducts such as oxyhalides and bromate in treated waters.
• Speciation of toxic chromium species (Cr(III) vs. Cr(VI)) and metal cyanide complexes.
• Trace analysis of polar pesticides, haloacetic acids, perchlorate, and organic halogens.
• Characterization of carboxylic acids and inorganic ions in ambient PM2.5.

Použitá metodika a instrumentace

These methods employ Reagent-Free™ IC systems with inline eluent generation, electrolytic suppressors, and a variety of separation columns (e.g., IonPac AS22-Fast, AS19, AS29, AS31, CS16, AG7, AS7). Detection modes include suppressed conductivity, UV absorbance, pulsed amperometric, IC-MS, IC-MS/MS, and IC-ICP-MS. Systems such as Dionex Aquion, Easion, Easion IC, ICS-5000/6000 HPIC, and Integrion HPIC are interfaced with single-quad and high-resolution mass spectrometers (ISQ EC, Q Exactive HF) or ICP-MS (iCAP RQ).

Hlavní výsledky a diskuse

• Low-level detection of inorganic anions (fluoride, chloride, nitrite, nitrate, sulfate, phosphate) achieved with MDLs down to sub-µg/L using RFIC and Fast-4 µm columns.
• Oxyhalides and bromide in drinking and bottled waters quantified with recoveries above 90% and MDLs below regulatory limits (e.g., bromate < 1 µg/L).
• IC-MS and IC-MS/MS delivered sub-µg/L quantitation of haloacetic acids, perchlorate, and polar pesticides with high selectivity and minimal interferences.
• Cr(VI) and Cr(III) speciation performed on 2 mm AS7 columns coupled to UV and ICP-MS, reaching MDLs of 0.001 µg/L.
• Cyanide and metal cyanide complexes resolved by ICE-PAD and UV detection in alkaline matrices, enabling quantification at µg/L levels.
• Ambient PM2.5 analysis of anions and carboxylic acids demonstrated sensitive multi-anion separation in a single run.

Přínosy a praktické využití metody

These IC approaches deliver:

• High sensitivity and accuracy for regulatory compliance (EPA, EU, WHO).
• Robust performance in diverse matrices (high ionic strength, wastewater, natural waters, air particulate extracts).
• Automated workflows with minimal reagent handling and rapid turnaround times.
• Enhanced selectivity through MS detection, facilitating positive analyte identification.

Budoucí trendy a možnosti využití

Emerging directions include integration of high-throughput IC-MS/MS for multi-class contaminant screening, miniaturized and portable IC systems for field analysis, advanced data processing for source apportionment in air quality studies, and expansion of speciation methods for trace-element and organic pollutant profiling.

Závěr

Thermo Scientific IC technologies provide comprehensive solutions for environmental water and air analysis, supporting stringent regulatory requirements and enabling proactive water-quality management. The combination of reagent-free eluent generation, efficient suppressors, specialized columns, and advanced detection modes meets the growing demand for accurate, routine monitoring of both established and emerging contaminants.

Reference

None provided in source document.